Secretive Climate Group Launches $1M Ad Campaign Against Gas Stoves

The Gas Leaks Action Campaign, a secretive climate activist group with significant financial backing, has launched a $1 million advertising campaign targeting natural gas stoves. The group claims that gas stoves harm the environment and pose explosion risks. In addition to the ad blitz, Gas Leaks has also spearheaded a campaign against the American Gas Association, the nation's leading industry group representing natural gas providers.

Despite its growing influence among Democratic lawmakers and climate-focused organizations, the Gas Leaks Action Campaign maintains a secretive online presence. Key details about the group's operations, funding, and organizational structure remain shielded from public view. The group appears to be supported by Climate Nexus, a clean energy advocacy organization that is fiscally backed by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. This arrangement allows Gas Leaks to operate without publicly sharing financial information.

Why this matters: The secretive nature of the Gas Leaks Action Campaign and its ties to wealthy donors raise questions about the influence of money in shaping energy policy. The push to ban gas stoves has significant implications for consumers and the natural gas industry.

The Heising-Simons Foundation, a California-based organization, has emerged as a major financial backer of the Gas Leaks Action Campaign. The foundation provided two $150,000 grants to the group in 2022 and 2023. Heising-Simons has also funded the Rocky Mountain Institute, a climate think tank involved in the push to target gas stoves.

Critics argue that Gas Leaks is promoting misinformation and pushing a radical climate agenda through shadowy means. They accuse the group of spreading misleading claims in an effort to drive up energy prices and sacrifice environmental progress. The campaign against gas stoves has gained momentum, with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Department of Energy taking steps to regulate or potentially ban the appliances.

Mike Sommers, president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, criticized the efforts to ban gas stoves, stating, "The claims made to justify these bans simply don't stand up to scrutiny, and the American people deserve to know the truth about natural gas." Sommers argued that the environmental movement is being influenced by political agendas and wealthy donors rather than sound science.

Key Takeaways

• Gas Leaks Action Campaign, a climate activist group, launched a $1M ad campaign against gas stoves.
• The group claims gas stoves harm the environment and pose explosion risks, but its operations remain secretive.
• The Heising-Simons Foundation, a major backer, provided $300K in grants to Gas Leaks in 2022-2023.
• Critics accuse Gas Leaks of promoting misinformation and pushing a radical climate agenda through shadowy means.
• The campaign against gas stoves has gained momentum, with federal agencies considering regulation or bans.